<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements contained in the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1996 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 709,070 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 175,690 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 956,417 <CASH> 16,252 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 11,657 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 35,336 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,388,136 <POLICY-LOSSES> 766,139 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 187,410 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 99,678 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 23,970 <OTHER-SE> 223,848 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,388,136 <PREMIUMS> 225,051 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 36,500 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,956 <OTHER-INCOME> 2,522 <BENEFITS> 151,471 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 54,862 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 19,730 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,815 <INCOME-TAX> (10,554) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 42,369 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 42,369 <EPS-PRIMARY> 7.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 7.50 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0